A former University of Lagos student Chidinma Ojukwu on Monday told a Lagos High Court that she never discussed the death of Super TV CEO, Michael Ataga, with her co-defendant, Adedapo Quadri.
Miss Ojukwu, a former 300-level Mass Communication student, made the statement while being cross-examined by Mr Quadri’s counsel, Babatunde Busari.
She said her dealings with Quadri were limited to the supply of Loud, a form of cannabis and Rohypnol, as well as his assistance in producing her school identity card.
“I never had any discussion with Adedapo Quadri about the death of Ataga. The only transactions we had were for the supply of Loud and Rohypnol. He also helped me to produce my school ID card,” she said.
Ojukwu said Quadri had no knowledge of what happened between her and Mr Ataga at the apartment, adding that he never visited her there.
She explained that she called Quadri only after Ataga mentioned he had one stick of Loud left.
The defendant admitted taking a brown envelope from the apartment when she left, saying it contained Ataga’s personal documents, including his driver’s licence, ID card, complimentary cards, a passport belonging to one Mary Johnson and bank statements.
“When the police came to my house at No. 57, Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, I told DSP Olusegun Bamidele that I took the envelope home by mistake,” she said.
Earlier, Ojukwu’s counsel, Onwuka Egwu, reminded the court that he had previously sought to tender certain letters, which the prosecution had objected to.
Mr Egwu said he wrote to the prosecution on October 29, 2021, requesting the production of items released on bond to the nominal complainant.
Prosecution counsel Yusuf Sule told the court that the prosecution did not come across such a document.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya ruled that the letter dated October 29, 2021, addressed to the director of public prosecutions and acknowledged, was admissible in evidence.
The court also admitted other letters addressed to the Ministry of Justice, the attorney-general of Lagos State and the Inspector-General of Police.
Ojukwu also tendered an iPhone 7 Plus, an iPhone 11 Pro, an iPhone X and a MacBook through her counsel, identifying them as hers and her sister’s.
“The iPhone 7 Plus belongs to my sister, while the iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone X, and the silver 2019 MacBook Pro are mine. I sold the MacBook to a vendor,” she said.
Justice Adesanya adjourned the case until November 6 for continuation of trial.
Ojukwu, Quadri and a third defendant, Chioma Egbuchu, are facing a nine-count charge filed by the Lagos State Government.
Ojukwu and Quadri are charged with conspiracy, murder and stabbing, while Egbuchu faces a count of stealing Ataga’s iPhone 7.
The prosecution alleges that Ojukwu and Quadri conspired to murder Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him multiple times in the neck and chest at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The defendants were arraigned on October 12, 2021.
